Yes, I am very excited about the future. I also know there is still time, and Purdue could still lose anither game, but there is no more margin of error and this slump seems to be dragging on. I am hoping Sat starts a great run to glory.
Rutgers 70, Illinois 59 Postgame
- Status
I believe fatigue is the answer as you stated above. These players are beat down by game day…it’s a fact. Also lineup change should have happened several games ago, we need offensive spark. Hawkins has no confidence offensively, he use to be better.
Agree! When we are contested so tight defensively our guards have to drive to the rim!
one of fourteen from the arc in the first half. That won't get it done against good teams and it's certainly not characteristic of these Illini. Did Plummer even net a single trey? And when will somebody from the BTN inform the play by play guys that the player's name was pronounced Skip THOREEN?
Spot on, very disappointed in our offensive schemes most of the time. Surely someone on the staff has some play calling imagination.
When DMW and Grandison played like they did I really hate calling out a freshman who at least looked like he cared but to each their own I guess
Careful. Had a post deleted last night pointing out the same opinion. Maybe Brad is a master motivator and that is how to get RJ to really lock in, but a curious comment to say the very least. The kid played, what, a minute in the first half?
THe best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores.
Context is important. A reporter asked him why he took RJ out so quickly in the first half. He didn't choose to randomly target him.
sacraig
- The desert
I think you've got to be blunt sometimes. You've got to call it like you see it, and as long as you're being fair I think that's fine to do more often than not. He loudly sings his players' praises when warranted, too.
Look at last year with Ayo and Belo pushing everything. Ayo would score one on two or three. Belo would take it to the hoop or find someone for an open shot Belo is still here and RJ and Hawkins are good at pushing it. RJ has Ayo"s mind set and Believes he can score on any one, and has.
Yeah. I was kidding. Just barely. Maybe third best.
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This team is spiraling downward fast. You can see it in the last 3 games. Defense is horrible-Mulcahy got in the middle multiple times and NOBODY there to put a hand in his face. No blocking out on the offensive boards. At one time this team I believe was ranked 2nd in the nation in rebounding but have been outrebounded badly in 6 of the last 8 games. Free throw shooting has been abysmal, 3's clanging loudly off the rim, no energy. This team has 4 seniors in the starting lineup but they have played with a deer in the headlights look lately, scared sloppily passing the ball back and forth like a hot potato. You can't just lay this on one player they are all partaking in the poor play. I think they are tired because they are being asked to play 35 minutes a game against tough opponents with only Kofi being given more of a break. I think the lineup against MSU on Saturday should be Kofi, Melendez, Goode, Belo and Podz with all the others coming off the bench perhaps to send a message if you're not going to play with urgency I am going to play some fresh blood. I know some of you are saying where is Hawk? Well, I just don't see him as a factor, he is a weak 6-10, doesn't pass well, not physical player. Last night he drove to the basket got right in front of it and instead of turning to shoot it passed it back to the back court and threw it away. He is not aggressive at all. This is his 2nd year and I see no improvement in him. I think this team has been plagued all year with injuries, sickness, suspensions and have never been ever to jell as a whole. My guess is they will finish in 4th place.
Who craps into a urinal?
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
Teams have figured out that if they triple Kofi on the offensive glass and neutralize him, there's nobody else on this team (starters, at least) big enough or aggressive enough to consistently get a rebound. DMW does sometimes, but not as a consistent threat. So just like that, what was a big positive for us early in the year has become either neutral or negative.
We also need to admit we're giving 20 min/game right now to a guy that is a shell of what he was last year (Curbelo). I think he has to be given that time (on the court) to get back to what he was/is, but it will hurt some along the way. Hopefully he can turn it around very soon.
We also need to admit we're giving 20 min/game right now to a guy that is a shell of what he was last year (Curbelo). I think he has to be given that time (on the court) to get back to what he was/is, but it will hurt some along the way. Hopefully he can turn it around very soon.
sbillini
- st petersburg, fl
i'm pretty sure we made a total of 2.5 jumpshots in the first 28 minutes of the game. (trent's three late in the first half, damonte's called off three, and then grandison's three early in the second half). That's not going to win many games. Rutger's defensive scheme was pretty simple, high ball denial...disrupt passing lanes (sound familiar?), use their guard's length to annoy our smaller guards, and then collapse the paint if/when the ball gets there. You need to make outside shots to work around that (particularly inside-out game), or dribble-drive hard. We couldn't do the former worth a lick, and the latter we did once in a while. Not good enough.
That and rebouding...we just need to figure those out.
I love this team. I think they'll figure it out. But the margin for error is now essentially zero.
That and rebouding...we just need to figure those out.
I love this team. I think they'll figure it out. But the margin for error is now essentially zero.
sacraig
- The desert
Postgame interviews definitely focused on effort and I agree it was lacking. That said, it would also be nice for some tactical accountability from the staff. We looked unprepared and were bad on both ends of the floor.
Example - We love to run the 4 out 1 in around Kofi which is great. But why do our 4 out stat stationary and just spectate once the entry pass is made? Are they taught to not move? Why they don't slide to the open spots vacated by defensive players going to double or triple the post is maddening.
Example - We love to run the 4 out 1 in around Kofi which is great. But why do our 4 out stat stationary and just spectate once the entry pass is made? Are they taught to not move? Why they don't slide to the open spots vacated by defensive players going to double or triple the post is maddening.
Dan
Admin
It's never "Thanks to the mod for allowing me to dominate nearly every game thread."
On this issue FLMan last night you were mixing up facts and leaving things out (plus admitting you didn't watch the postgame) in what concluded with escalating harsh language directed at BU. An account with the most combined posts in the game & postgame threads should imho have the basic facts down prior to dropping a take.
Anywho the quote in question occurred on the radio postgame, I don't know if that's available to replay anywhere. Then there's the official media postgame, available to watch on the home page, there BU gave praise to RJ & CH. Ok happy Thursday everyone & Go Illini
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
I agree re: the offense and would usually mostly agree with the comment about the weave, but last night that action actually did get us several open, straight-line drives to the hoop when we couldn't get anything going in the first half. I think it has a time and a place but shouldn't always be our go-to "we're down 8 and they have the momentum, this is what will stop it" set.
TheFameProtector
- Champaign
Yeah, I wish the TV commentators would quit with the "this can absolutely be a Final Four team" or "a team cutting down the nets"...I don't see it and would prefer tempered expectations. We're a really good veteran team, but we lack some pieces needed to make that type of run, imo.
Yes His name though spelled Thoren was pronounced Skip Thoreen!
Oh, there’s some ogres and savages out there who would. Michigan fans mostly.
I always love me a Dan sighting.It's never "Thanks to the mod for allowing me to dominate nearly every game thread."
On this issue FLMan last night you were mixing up facts and leaving things out (plus admitting you didn't watch the postgame) in what concluded with escalating harsh language directed at BU. An account with the most combined posts in the game & postgame threads should imho have the basic facts down prior to dropping a take.
Anywho the quote in question occurred on the radio postgame, I don't know if that's available to replay anywhere. Then there's the official media postgame, available to watch on the home page, there BU gave praise to RJ & CH. Ok happy Thursday everyone & Go Illini
- Status